La Pedrera (Catalan: [lə pəˈðɾeɾə], Spanish: [la peˈðɾeɾa]) is a Modernist building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and built between 1906 and 1912, it was the last private residence designed by Gaudí. The building was commissioned by Pere Milà and his wife Roser Segimón, a wealthy widow of Josep Guardiola, an Indiano who had made his fortune with a coffee plantation in Guatemala. At the time of its construction, it was controversial because of its undulating stone facade and twisting wrought iron balconies.
The name La Pedrera is a nickname assigned by the citizens who disapproved of the building's unusual appearance, referring to its rough-hewn look. The unique structure and the relationship between Gaudí and Pere Milà became an object of ridicule for the people of Barcelona. Gaudí, a Catholic, planned for the building to be a spiritual symbol, including an excerpt from the Rosary on the cornice and planned statues of Our Lady of the Rosary and two archangels. However, following an outbreak of anticlericalism in the city, Milà decided to forgo the religious statues.
In 1984, the building was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Since 2013, it has been the headquarters of the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, which manages visits to the building, exhibitions, and other cultural and educational activities. The building is characterized by its self-supporting stone facade, which connects to the internal structure through curved iron beams, allowing for a free-plan layout where internal walls can be modified without affecting the stability of the structure.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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